The Anti-Money Laundering Act (Amla) is supposedly a key component in lessening corruption in our country. But considering how the Aquino administration uses and abuses its power over its political foes, some of the proposed further amendments to the Amla could instead become a sword of Damocles hanging over the opposition, especially now that the elections are near. And this is not farfetched; in fact it is a very real big threat given President Aquino’s “one-man rule” style of governance. Even without the amendments, this is already happening. The additional amendments would just give additional ammunition for the administration’s assaults on the opposition.
Some laws in our country are not enforced properly. If the bill’s provisions that are meant to lessen corruption will just be used to achieve the ruling party’s political objectives, then we might as well set aside the amendments for the meantime and wait for an administration that does not have tendencies of abusing its power, or any law for that matter.
—EDWARD DUQUE,
dukesofedward@ymail.com